Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Foot maze a big step for school

LUNCHTIMES and lessons could soon be a-mazing for pupils after they drew up plans for an adventure area on their school field.

A proposed maze at Wybunbury Delves Primary School, near Nantwich, would be laid out in the shape of a giant foot, symbolising children's efforts to reduce their own carbon footprints.

It would be made entirely from natural materials, such as shrubs, and the network of paths would lead to a teepee at its centre.

This tent would act as an outdoor classroom and could be used for reading sessions, small group work and other fun learning activities.

The maze is set to form the centrepiece of an environmental area, which would also include a hibernation zone for hedgehogs, a sensory garden, a wildlife area, and a den.

But pupils and staff need funding to bring their grand ideas to life. So now they have turned to The Sentinel's and Barclays' Class Act competition for help.

If they win a £5,000 prize, it would pay for the materials they need and would also enable pupils to work with Cheshire Wildlife Trust on environmental science activities.

Rose Borup, aged 10, from Audlem, said: "We would probably get the school's environment club to help plant the maze.

"We could use the maze at lunchtimes, because we would have a longer period of time to find our way round it. But it shouldn't be too difficult or children may get lost.

"I really like the idea of mazes because they are fun and they keep you occupied. It would also be good to have a maze made out of natural resources, because it shows us about the importance of the natural environment."

Other ideas for the environmental area include creating an outdoor art gallery for children's work.

Teacher Rhion Silvester said: "The land isn't used at the moment and is just under an acre. With the maze in the middle of it, there is going to be a lot of space to work with. We've talked about having log piles to create a home for mini-beasts. The children have lots of other ideas."

All 185 pupils at Wybunbury Delves Primary would be able to use the maze, and so too would children who attend a pre-school on the same site.

For solving these mazes, find the entrance and exit arrows and the path that connects them, then you've solved the maze.